Need some info on 9" Ford rear ends. We are building a 32 ford coupe frame and we trying to decide what rearend to use. I have a 68 Chevy Nova rear with leafs or should we go with a Ford 9" using leafs of 4 bar with coil overs? What size 9" is a good size and what are the lengths? 28 vs. 31 spline axles? Use a Ford Torino rear or any suggestions would be appreciated? I'll search the posts. Thanks
If you using a big block engine, go with the 9" Ford. '57-'59 ford rears are around 55" from inside backing plates. I just so happen to have a Lincoln Versailles rear that is similar in width for sale, it's complete, even with e-brake cables
Those 57-59 rearends are nice 'n narrow, they fit under early Mustangs, Pintos, Mavericks, etc.- if you can find one these days
Unless you are running big horsepower look at the 8" Ford. The weight you save will help ride quality, it's unsprung weight and it makes a difference. Try to find an 8" out of a Maverick Grabber, perfect width and plenty strong.
Believe it or not there are 2 9" rears narrower than the 57-59 Ford. The early Bronco's are 53" but they are top perch & centered housing (offset pinion) as well as 5-1/2" BP. 58-59 Edsels are also narrow but my 58 9" has is a 5X5" BP. The 59-60 T Bird is 54" but the perches are rather close in. 57-59 Fords are 55". To me the nicest is the 57 rear end with no "dimples". Most overlook the T-birds & most web sites don't reference them. Movin/on
9".. easy to find ratios, easy to find parts etc, strong enough even if you take the restrictor plate(s) off.
I've got nothing against 9" Fords, I've got 2 projects of my own with them. But how many factory production parts are in the rear ends on those cars with restrictor plates? Larry T
These measurements are misleading ... and not the BEST way to measure a rear end. This is the BEST way ... IMHO. The reason is that there are many different brake drum widths and brake offsets. This can mess up the installed width by as much as 2 to 3 inches. The Maverick V8 rear end is 56.5 inches wide ... measured the way I show. The 57/59 Ford car rear end is a little less than 58 inches. The Bronco is 58 inches wide. I have a 67 Bronco rear end under my full fendered 32 Roadster. I narrowed a 9 inch to 56 inches ... for my 32 3W. If you are going to run fenders ... 56 to 58 inches is the suggested width. If you are going without fenders ... a rear end a little wider can be used. The Nova 10 bolt is wider ... than the 57/59 Ford, the Bronco and the Maverick. The Nova 10 bolt is not as pretty, not does it have as wide a gear ratio selection. The Nova has axle bearings in the housing where the Ford 8 inch and 9 inch have them pressed on the axle. IF ... you are planning on running old Ford pickup steel wheels ... I strongly suggest you run the Bronco because the Bronco has the Ford pickup wheel pattern Most on the online sites that list rear end widths use the method I posted in the photo Representative for comparison purposes only Ford Outside Width Year Model 56.50 1969-1977 Maverick 8" 57.00 1974-1978 Mustang II 8" 57.25 1957-1959 Ford, Ranchero, Station Wagon 57.25 1965-1966 Mustang 58.00 1966-1977 Bronco 58.00 1964-1965 Falcon 58.00 1977-1981 Granada/Versailles 58.50 1977-1981 Versailles 59.25 1967-1970 Mustang, Fairlane, Comet, Cougar 60.00 1967 Cougar 60.00 1958-1960 Edsel 61.00 1964-1971 Ford Full Size 61.00 1949-1951 Mercury 61.25 1957-1972 Ford F-100 Pickup 61.25 1960-1964 Ford Full Size 61.25 1971-1973 Mustang 61.25 1967-1973 Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 63.00 1970-1979 Ranchero & Torino 63.00 1972-1979 Ford Full Size & Intermediate 63.50 1967 Fairlane (Coil Springs) 65.25 1973-1986 Ford F-150 Pickup 65.25 1978-1986 Bronco 65.25 1973-1986 Ford Van 3/4 Ton 68.00 1972 Ford Van 3/4 Ton 69.25 1977-1986 Ford E-150 Van
I absolutely agree with "duece roadster" ... the only measurement that is important is the overall width of the rear ... wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface.
The only measurement that matters is wheel mounting surface to wheel mouning surface because of the different offsets of axles and brakes druns as mentioned by Deuce Roadster. And the chart he posted is correct, with the 57-59 Ford and 64-6 Mustang being the narrowest stock 9". The numbers you are qouting are from the housing flange which don't really mean anything as it is not the overall width. by the time you put axles and brakes on it you will be where that chart says.
The Nova rear end is 60 and 1/4 inches wide. Measured from the wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface. IF you are planning on fenders ... most consider the 60 plus inches too wide. IF you are going without fenders ... the Nova will work. Most 32 guys do not like to run leaf springs on a 32. They are just too short to give a good ride and most consider them unattractive also. NOW if you use the transverse style leaf spring ... you do not see them and they ride decent. This rear end is a early Bronco 9 inch. It is 58 inches wide ...
leaf springs on a 32 ford? stock ford style I hope. 8" or 9" cause it's the best part for the money, unless some one gave you a 10 bolt (with the gear you want) and you feel obligated. the Nova should be around 59-60 inches wide
Does the offset pinion on narrow, early, Bronco 9 inch rear ends cause any problems? Or, can the u-joints handle it with the engine and transmission centered in the chassis?
I replaced an '55 Chevy rear end in my '34 Ford 5-W Coupe with a 9" Bronco rear end. It works great and the size is perfect. I am running a 350/350 set-up without any problems. No u-joint problems. The only downside is that I occasionally overhear a critical comment about the off-set as viewed from the rear by someone . Well, you know what those guys can do with themselves. I really don't care. I like the set-up and it works great for me.
I have 50 plus thousand miles on my 32 roadster ( with the Bronco rear end ) with no problems. IN FACT ... I have a used Corvette aluminum driveshaft in my roadster ( 1988/1989 ) that I bought at Carlisle swap meet and I have not even changed the rear U-joint from the one General Motors install new from the factory. The chassis photo I posted is from a friends 32 ... and he has a lot of miles on his with no problems either. I have been told the the U-joints actually work better if they have to change a little
I get 9" rear ends all day long for $150. 28 spline and 350 gear. They are the nicer looking style for an open car. Also narrrow enough to fit under a 50's (Chevy) car.
That is good to know. I often wondered about that. I guess then, that unless you have to fit the driveline in a narrow body driveline tunnel, the early Bronco 9 inch will work fine. With this added confidence, i'm going to go shopping for one tomorrow.
I have two rods, a 31 coupe full fendered and a 32 high boy roadster. I used aftermarket Ford 9 inch housings in both. One from Currie and the other from the the 9 inch factory, both with smooth round back housings. I used a triangular 4 link suspension with adjustable coilovers on both, this give a is nice ride and the opportunity for adjusting ride height. Smooth rear end Triangular 4-Link
There's nothing wrong with a rear ujoint that's dead centered in the car- as long as there's a height difference with opposite but equal angles between the trans and rear. the offset up/down is indistinguishable from offset left/right as viewed by the ujoint-all it wants is some offset so the bearing caps rotate and dont go flat on ya. rick
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